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Chamonix Travel Guide

The holiday resort of Chamonix sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc
and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town
is in the centre of a string of villages spread out along a valley
cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six
miles (10km) up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets
slopes, and Les Houches is a small holiday resort a few miles
below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix
attracts ski bums and serious weekend skiers (the town is only 50
minutes drive from Geneva) and this is reflected in the sportive
atmosphere in the bars and restaurants.

Chamonix and Argentiere are renowned worldwide for their wide
variety of challenging skiing, but there are also plenty of options
for beginners, particularly at Le Tour at the top end of the
valley. There are nursery slopes nearer town at La Vormaine, Les
Chosalets and Les Planards. Intermediates and advanced skiers can
enjoy up to 300 miles (500km) of slopes available with the full
lift pass, ranging from Le Brevent and La Flegere to Les
Grands-Montets. Les Grands-Montets is the major attraction for
advanced skiers with some massive mogul fields and endless
off-piste skiing. The Vallée Blanche is probably the
best-known ski trail in the Alps: a 13 mile (21km) glacier running
along the Mer de Glace back to Chamonix. It's often closed due to
bad weather, but is an essential adventure for competent skiers.
Skiers should take a guide and be prepared for bad weather.

Chamonix is a year-round holiday town and is packed with a
selection of shops - though most are aimed at skiers and climbers
on holiday. There are plenty of supermarkets and delicatessens for
self-caterers.

Chamonix is alive with restaurants, ranging from first-class
French restaurants to Indian, Chinese, Italian and Japanese
eateries and holidaymakers will not be disappointed. For
Michelin-standard food, book Albert Ist et Milan in the town
centre. Argentiere has some good local restaurants but much less
choice than Chamonix. There are some fine restaurants on the slopes
too, including Le 3842, the highest restaurant in Europe.

Chamonix is known for its ski-hard-party-hard atmosphere and the
nightlife won't disappoint. The Bumble Bee and the Mill Street bar
in Chamonix and the Office Bar in Argentiere are popular choices
for après-ski drinks, and Wild Wallabies is an essential
stop for hard-drinking Brits and Scandinavians. There is a casino
for those wishing to try their luck on the tables.

Chamonix has a swimming centre with pools, a sauna and Turkish
baths, and an indoor ice rink and bowling for holidaymakers to
enjoy. Paragliding can be arranged when the weather's good. There
are plenty of hiking trails in the area.

The ski areas in Chamonix do not inter-connect and the base lift
stations are far apart, so a car is essential in Chamonix unless
you are happy to wait for the erratic shuttle buses. The beginner
slopes are separated from the main skiing areas making lunch
meetings hard to organise. Chamonix has its own microclimate and
the weather can be bad when neighbouring resorts are fine. If it is
clouded over, it's worth checking out the weather in Courmayeur in
Italy, a short trip away through the Mont Blanc tunnel.